Cubs acquire P Gregg; Wood to leave as free agent

Nov 13, 2008 - 9:58 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- When the Chicago Cubs acquired reliever Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins on Thursday, the move all but signaled the end of an era in the Windy City.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said the club likely will not re-sign closer Kerry Wood, who is a free agent.

"We're just in a situation - and Kerry fully understands - that length of a deal for the kind of salary he could command right now is not our first priority," Hendry said.

Hendry said the team had other needs such as re-signing starting pitcher Ryan Dempster and adding offense.

"We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what is best for him and his family and get a huge multi-year deal, if possible," Hendry said. "This is really the right thing to do. We've had some really honest conversations in the last week. I don't think we could do for him right now what he deserves and what I think he'll get going elsewhere."

With a fastball in the upper 90s and a devastating curveball, Wood made an immediate impact with the Cubs in 1998 as he won National League Rookie of the Year honors.

Wood's rookie season was highlighted by his fifth major league start, when he tied a major-league record with 20 strikeouts in a game against the Houston Astros. However, his career was derailed by a bevy of arm and elbow troubles.

This past season, Wood won the job as closer and saved 34 games, helping lead the Cubs to the best record in the National League and making his second career All-Star appearance. He finished with a 5-4 record and 3.26 ERA.

It's uncertain if Gregg, who had 29 saves for the Marlins in 2008, will close in Chicago. Hard-throwing Carlos Marmol was an All-Star setting up for Wood this past season.

In return for Gregg, the Marlins received 22-year-old righthander Jose Ceda.

Gregg is the fourth arbitration-eligible player traded by the Marlins this offseason, joining first baseman Mike Jacobs, outfielder Josh Willingham and starting pitcher Scott Olsen.

Ceda, 21, was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and nine saves in 22 relief appearances with Class AA Tennessee in 2008.

"Jose is a big, strong kid with a real live arm," Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said. "We think he can help us in the back end of our bullpen in the very near future, if not right away. We also want to thank Kevin for his two seasons with us. He did a great job for us and we wish him the best."